Casement window structure



June 26, 1956 J. H. OSWALD 2,751,639

CASEMENT WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 5, 1952 [I] //INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 26, 1956 J. H. OSWALD 2,751,639

CASEMENT WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F"? FIG. 4 a i r Xx W INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS BY 4 N. 41M;

June 26, 1956 J. H. OSWALD CASEMENT wmoow STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5. 1952 INVENTOR. 71 IV. Qua/ &6

QTTORNEYS June 26, 1956 J. H. OSWALD 2,751,639

CASEMENT WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

BY 4d Z/MdWM/ ATTORNEYS.

June 26, 1956 J. H. OSWALD 2,751,639

CASEMENT WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 T FIG.

IN VEN TOR.

BY MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent CASEMENT WINDGW STRUCTURE Joseph H. ()swald, South Euclid, Ohio Application April 5, 1952, Serial No. 280,710

16 Claims. (Cl. 20-53) The invention relates to hinged windows and especially to casement windows having frame and sash parts formed chiefly of wood.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple sash casement window frame having an improved narrow mullion structure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a multiple sash casement window having a frame comprising an improved mullion structure consisting in part of wood and in part of metal with the metal part performing the added function of weather strip for the upright edges of the adjacent sashes.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a multiple sash casement window frame having improved means for connecting a mullion to the sill and head parts of the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sash fastener for hinged windows operationally characterized by powerful closing action against the resistance of resilient weather strips, effective locking, powerful opening action to break sticking paint or varnish and ease of manual operation and structurally characterized by great simplicity, low manufacturing and installation costs, pleasing appearance and freedom from damage during building construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sill structure for outwardly-opening casement windows constructed to facilitate assembly of associated frame parts and attachments, to house the window sash operator, permit easy replacement or repair of the operator and present a pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable ventilating holder for demountable window sashes characterized by simple construction and ease of detachment to permit demounting of the sash.

For the attainment of the foregoing and other incidental objects the invention consists in certain forms, arrangements and combinations of parts which will be exemplified and explained by reference to the accompanying drawings of specific preferred constructions and thereafter defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an outside elevation of a double-sash casement window embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of the same window.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged outside elevation of the improved mullion structure and adjacent parts of the window frame, major portions of the frame structure being broken away to permit illustration on the enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the broken line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the sill and other adjacent parts of the window, the section being taken on the broken line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on thev Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 10 and showing the improved sash fastener mechanism, the operating parts being shown in the positions which they occupy when the sash is closed and locked.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section corresponding to Fig. 8 and showing the various parts in the positions occupied when the sash has been moved to a partially opened position. FFigs. 10 is a vertical section on the line 10 10 of Fig. vll is an enlarged fragmentary inside elevation showing the demountable storm sash fastener and 00- operating parts of the structure.

P Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line 1212 of Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Referring in detail to the construction shown in the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally the frame part of the window structure, 2 and 3 designate generally a pair of sashes hingedly mounted in the frame, and the numerals 4 and 5 designate generally a pair of demountable storm sashes.

The frame structure 1 comprises a sill 6, jambs 7, 7, head 8, and a mullion structure generally designated by the numeral 9. The jambs 7, 7 are morticed at 7a to receive stops 10, 10 which may be rigidly secured to the jambs by screws or nails (not shown). Similarly the head 8 is formed with a mortice 8a to receive stops 11, '11. The sashes 2, 3 are pivotally connected to the jambs of the frame structure by conventional casement hinges 12, 12.

The sill structure also includes a stool 13 which is permanently secured to suitably spaced blocks 14 which in turn are permanently secured to sill 6 and thus support the stool at a substantially higher level than the sill (Fig. 6). Between the stool and the adjacent main sashes are arranged secondary stools 15, 15. The latter are detachably secured by screws 15a, 15a to spacing blocks 16, 17 which are attached to the sill 6. The secondary stools 15, 15 which serve to support the demountable sashes 4, 5, are thinner than the stool 13 so that the latter forms a shoulder to engage the demountable sashes with the result that the latter at their lower ends are positioned between the outer edge of the stool 13 and inner surfaces of the upright window stops. That part of each secondary stool 15 between the main sash and the demountable sash may have its top surface inclined outward and downward to provide drainage (Fig. 6). Y

The usual trim molding 18 is attached to the inner edge of sill 6.

The sill 6 is formed on its upper surface with a mortise 6a which extends from end to end of the sill. In the space between the sill 6 and each secondary stool 15 is mounted the sash operator which, as shown, is of a conventional construction and comprises a housing 20 which is rigidly secured by screws 21 to sill 6, the rectangular base of the housing fitting in the mortise 6a which thus serves to position the housing and supplement the holding action of the screws. The operator is of the worm and wheel type having its operating arm 22 fitted with an antifriction slide 23 that engages in the channel of a track 24 rigidly secured to the bottom rail of the sash 3 (or 2). The operator is actuated in well known manner by a detachable crank 25 which passes through an aperture in the trim moulding 18 to engage a socket in the worm of the operator gearing.

The mullion structure 9 comprises a Wood post 26 which, for convenience of manufacture, is formed of two similar halves 26a, 26b which are keyed and glued to- Patented June 26, 1956' gether-to form a rigid unitary structure. This post structure 26 is formed at its bottom to fit the mortise 6a ofthe sill and is rigidly anchored in position by a pair of splines 27, 27 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are formed of tough multiple layer plywood andfi't slots 26a, 26a in the bottomcfthe mullion post and, slots b, 612 formed in the top surface of the sill 6. The splines are permanently glued tothe mullion post and,in the assembly of the frame, are secured to the sill by means of long screws 28, 28 which pass upward through the sill-t enter and powerfully expand :the tough plywood of the splines.

The upper end of the mullion post is attached to the head S of the-framein substantially thesame manner as its lower end is attached to the sill. That is, the post-26 is we formed at itsuppen end to fit themortise sja of the head and plywood-splines29, 29' glued in slots formed in post 26, engage slots 8b formed in the lower side of the head 8; Screws-39, 30 serve to mechanically secure the head 7 and mullion structures rigidly together.

'Thetwo halves of the mullion post 26' are shaped so that the post on its outer side is formed throughout its lengthwvith a-recess-having lateral grooves or slots; In the-recess-is arranged a muliion and weather seal member 31=which is formed of resilient sheet metalby longitudinally folding an elongated strip of the material to approximately-V- form (Fig. with its free edges-turned laterally to engage the lateral slots in the recess of thepost'26. This engagement serves to secure the member 3110 the post 2 6-with-a loose or floating attachment. The two oppositely facing sidesof the member 31-are inclined-to engage the correspondingly beveled upright edges of the window-sashes 2,3. Member 31 is preferably made of stainless steel or other corrosion resistant material having considerable-resilience so that the member is'subject to some compression when the window is closed, as in Fig.

. 5, to form an effective weather seal between the adjacent edges-of the'sashes. It will be seen that the relatively thin fonnof the 'mullion member 31 permits close spacing of thefadjacent edges of the sashes and secures a pleasing slender appearance of the mullion section of the window. At its inner-side the mullion post is fitted with a trim cap 32 which may be glued or otherwise rigidly secured to the post.

The post 26-of the mullion structure is fitted with a pair of-fasteners forthe two sashes 2 and 3. Each fastener, generally designated by the numeral 33, comprises a bolt mechanism of the pivoted'cam type generally designated by the-numeral 34 and a keeper device generally designated by the numeral 35.--

The bolt-mechanismcomprises a housing 36 formed of two like halves 36:: which are formed of flat sheet strip material bent to form a flange along one edge, the halves being combined -as-shown in- Fig. 10. Thus combined the.halves form a fiat open-ended housing which is mounted in a correspondingly-shaped mortise extending through the mullion post from the inner face to the outer facethereofi t Withinthe housing 36 are mounted a rotary' cam typebolt .member 37 and anactuator 38, both of whicharepivotally mounted'on tubular. rivets 39 and 40; respectively, these .n'vetsserving also torigidly 'join'togetherthe halves of. the housing. The bolt mechanism 34 of the fastener is anchored in the mullion post by a pair of specially-formed wood screws 41 and 42 which are .in-. serted inholes bored in the post and pass through the rivets 32 .and 40, respectively, of the housingstructure 36. Thescrews 41 .and 42 have taper ends which, in the,

case of screws 41, engage in apertures in the mullion member 31 and constitute supplementary means for .loosely securing said member. {)ustable means for limiting the spread of the sides of mem.

er 31-. v 7

Also the screws 41 serve as ad. 7

The peripheries of the cam bolt 37 and the actuator 38 the actuator eifects' rota-* 1 The actuator --38- is formed with an elongated handle 38b to make the actuation of the bolt suitably powerful.

The side of the bolt member 37 of the fastener, opposite the teeth 37a thereof, is formed with an elongated cam slot which provides an inwardly facing cam surface 371) and an outwardly facing cam surface 370, these surfaces being designed to cooperate with the keeper of the fastener mechanism.

To provide-asuitable dressor finish for the inner side of the fastener mechanism, an escutcheon plate is attached to the post 25, the escutcheon being formed with a slot to accommodate the handle of theactuator-L ii.

The keeper 35 of the fastener comprises a shell 44 which is preferably drawn or die-formed from sheet metal, the shell being of circular segmental form which will be apparent from Figs. 5 and 8. Extending between and riveted toithefiat sides of the shell 44-is a keeper pin 45 designed to cooperate with the cam surfaces 37b and-37e of the bolt member 37. The shell 44 of the keeper device is mounted" in-a-mortise formed in the inner side of the sash as shown in Fig. 5, the shell being'anchored oyscrews i6, 46. Fig. 8 shows the parts of the fastener in their closed and locked positions whileFig..9 shows them in the positions occupied wheuithe' sash'is moved to a-partially openposition by means-of the fastener. it will be apparent that as the handle -38b of the fastener is raised the cam surface 37c ofthe bolt member 37,- by its engagement with the keeper pin 45, will act to positively force the sash-open to the position shownin Fig.9; and, on the other hand, when the open sashisrnoved to the nearly-closed position shown in- Fig: 9, the-'keeper-pin 45 engages the end of the cam surface 370 and is in position to be engaged by the cam surface 37b and drawn forcibly to a fuily closed position as theactuator'handle- 38b isswung downward. Cam surface 37b-is designed and positioned in relation to the cam pivot to effectively lock the sash in closed position.

The-'outerfaces-of the jamb stops '16 and the head stops ll are fittedwith conventional weather strips 47 and the outer faceof the mullion is similarly fitted with weather strips-48 which supplement sealing action ofthe mullion member 31. The weather seal strips 47: and 43' areengaged by theinner faces of the sashes 2 and 3 and function in well-known manner. At the bottom 'of each" 0f"thesashes"2"and 3*is;mounted a weather seal consistingof a'rocker bar 49' which is loosely secured to the sill- 6by screws 59"which"pass loosely through holes in the bar (Fig. 6). Each I'OCKCI'IbaPiS in the form of a metahanglejstrip'withthe two arms of the angle'connected'by'a curved .zone'adapted'to roll or rock on the tsill""support; When the .sash 'is closed the upright arm 'of the bar is engagedby the :inner face of the'sash so that th'e'iother arm 'is tipped upinto forcibleengage ment'withthebottom edge of the sash to form an effective'seal. This'rocker barseal is fully shown and described infUnite'd StatesPatent'No'. 2,583,439, granted January"22,"1952;" and maybe referred tovfor a disclosure thereof incomplete detail. i However it may be" noted here that the screw holes of the bars 49 form drainage passages for any moisture that may condense on the innenside'of the sashes 2, 3. It will also be noted that theuse' of the. rockerbar type of 'seal provides-a substantial fspaceebetween the bottomedge of the sashes and the sill'fso thattroublesome. ice formation and stickingof the sash. is' avoided in winter and the holding of moisture between. the sash and, the sill'with resultant rotting is'obviated. Furthermore, the action of the rocker bar has special advantages in connection with casement type window sashes :since the upwardpressure on the. sash exerted by the outwardly; extendiugarm of the bar when 'thesashis closedresists any downward pull of the fasteners 33""on .thesashe's; and, generally, the rocker bar reduces .the loading of the sash'hinges when" the sashes areiclos'edr As has been noted," each of" the demountable storm sashes 4, 5 is arranged with its-outerface"eugagingthe jamb and head stops 1'0, 11 and mullion post 26 (Fig. 7 and with its bottom edge resting upon the secondary stool and engaging the shoulder formed by the outer edge of the stool 13. To look the demountable sashes in such operative position they are fitted with fasteners designated as entireties by the numeral 51 (Figs. 11-13). Each of the fasteners 51 comprises a pivoted cam type bolt member generally designated by the reference numeral 52 which is operatively mounted on the sash and a keeper pin 53 mounted on the adjacent part of the frame structure.

The bolt member 52 comprises a cam part 52a and an operating handle 52b. The edge of the sash is recessed, as at 40, to receive the cam part 52a of the fastener and a bearing plate 54 which has a flange 54a to engage the inner face of the sash. The cam part 52a and the plate 54 are apertured to receive a pivot-and-attachment screw 55, the plate 54 being formed to provide a conical bearing surface surrounding its aperture while the underside of the head of the screw 55 forms an opposing conical bearing surface. The cam part 52:: is countersunk on each side of its screw aperture to fit the bearing surfaces of the plate 54 and screw 55 (Fig. 13). The formation of the plate 54 is such that the edges of its aperture engage the shank of the screw adjacent the screw head to limit the tightening of the screw so that the bolt member 52 of the fastener is left free to turn on its bearing support while, at the same time, it is possible to thoroughly tighten the securing screw 55 and so prevent loosening in the use of the fastener. As will be apparent the flange 54a of bearing plate 54 prevents rotation of the plate.

The cam part 52a of the fastener is formed with a curved cam slot that provides an inwardly facing cam surface 52c and an outwardly facing cam surface 52d, both of which are designed to operatively engage the keeperpin 53. At its inner end the cam surface 52a is slightly relieved (Fig. 12) for a purpose which will presently appear. The keeper pin 53 has plain cylindrical ends with an intermediate deeply knurled body section and when forced into a hole of suitable size the pin is firmly anchored in the frame structure.

Upon an inspection of Fig. 12 it will be apparent that when the fastener handle 52!; is raised the cam surface 52d, acting against the keeper pin 53, will serve to forcibly start the opening of the sash and this action is made doubly effective by the relief of the cam surface 52d at its inner end which causes the cam to suddenly strike the keeper pin and separate the sash from the frame in event they are stuck together with varnish or paint.

By raising the handles of the two fasteners of the sash the latter is freed and may be freely lifted from the supporting stool 15. This facilitates the seasonal task of replacing the storm sashes with screens.

In the locking of the fasteners 51 it is apparent that with the fastener handles raised the slot of the cam part. 52a will receive the keeper pin 53 so that when the; fastener handle is lowered cam surface 52c engages the pin to pull the sash to fully closed position where it is. effectively locked.

When the demountable sash is a window screen the fasteners 51'are adequate for all purposes but in the case of storm sashes, which are illustrated in the drawings, it is desirable to provide adjustable holding means for the storm sash so that it can be secured in various positions forl'piirposes of ventilation. To serve this purpose each storm sash is fitted with an adjustable holder generally designated by the numeral 56 (Figs. 5, 7). The holder comprises a toggle linkage generally designated by the numeral 57 and comprising links 57a and 57b which are connected together by a conventional pivot joint of the friction type. The free end of link 57a is pivotally connected to a bracket 58 which is secured by screws 59 to the sash, while the free end of link 57b is fitted with 6 an elongated pivot pin 60 designed to enter a bearing sleeve 61 mounted in the adjacent jamb stop 10.

The holder so constructed and mounted permits the upper end of the storm sash to be tipped inward to various positions where it is held frictionally for ventilating purposes. When it is desired to replace the storm sash with a screen it is only necessary to tip the top of the storm sash inward, lift it over the frame stool until it can be moved laterally to disengage the pivot pin 60 from its bearing sleeve. Removal of the sash is thus effected without use of a tool of any kind.

The manner in which the window functions will be apparent from the foregoing description but the special advantages incident to various features of the invention should be pointed out more fully. In the case of the mullion construction the floating metal member, in addition to performing the function of two weather strips, permits closer spacing of the two adjacent sashes than in the case of conventional mullion structures with the result of more pleasing architectural lines. The spline joint construction employed to position and anchor the wood mullion post to the sill and head members of the frame facilitates accurate location of the mullion and ease of assembly and provides strong, permanently rigid joints.

The part of the window frame structure associated with the sill provides for the enclosure of the sash operator, leaving the stool surface entirely unobstructed and pleasing in appearance, while at the same time the easily removable support strip of the demountable sash facilitates both the original mounting of the sash operators and their repair or replacement in case of need.

Mention has already been made of the effective manner in which the cam of the main sash fastener, in the closing of the sash, reaches out to engage the keeper before the weather strips are materially compressed. This is of considerable importance because the aggregate resistance which the weather strips offer to complete closing of the sash is more than the sash operator can readily overcome. The long reach of the fastener cam and its powerful cam action make this weakness of the operator unimportant. In its fully closed position the fastener cam, of course, effectively locks the sash. On the other hand, in the opening of the sash the powerful kick-out action of the fastener cam is effective to loosen a sash stuck by varnish or paint, where the sash operator alone would be ineflective.

The simplicity and ease of manufacture and installation of the sash fastener 33 is exceptional. The cam and cam operator parts are stamped from plate metal stock, all working surfaces (cam, gear teeth and pivot aperture) being formed in the one operation. The housing is formed of two identical flanged sheet metal pieces which can be made easily and cheaply. Permanent assembly of the cam, operator, rivet and housing parts is quickly and easily effected by simultaneous swaging operations on the ends of the tubular rivets. The resulting assembly is easily slipped into the mortise through the mullion and effectively anchored by the screws inserted through the tubular rivets. The mortise to receive the housing is readily cut by a single operation with a chain-type mortiser. In the case of the keeper structure of the fastener the shell can be formed of sheet metal by a stamping and die operation and the circular segmental form of the shell makes possible easy formation of the mortise to receive it.

The storm sash fastener prevents obvious simplicity and ease of manufacture and installation. The expedient of locking engagement between the bearing plate and screw insures tight and firm attachment without danger of loosening and at the same time free operational movement of the fastener cam is insured.

The ease with which the ventilating holder can be separated from the window frame is highly convenient in the seasonal exchanging of storm windows and screens.

. Generally speakinggthe constructionof the window is such as to" facilitate assembly of theparts and fittings" of the window to providea strong structure accurately meeting rigid'dirnensional specifications. therefore well adapted to"'th e practice which prevails increasingly of shipment from the factory in aknocked-doWn condition and assembly by jobbersor dealers;

.While preferred forms of construction of the various features of the invention have been shown and described, thevarious features of the inventio'ri'may be embodied in other equivalent forms within theboun'ds-of the appended claims.

What is claimed is.

l. A casement window'having-a wood frame comprising sill, head, jamb and-mullion parts; ofwh'ich the mullion comprises a post rigidly connected at its lower end to the sill and at its upper end to-the head; two sashes hinged respectively to the jamb'parts'of the frame for cooperationl with the frame'mullionyand aresilient mullion and weather seal member formed of a strip of sheet material folded longitudinally toapproxim'ately V cross' section,

a the said member extending from the sill to the head at the outer side of the mullion post, with'the point of the V facing outward, and being loosely secured-to the wood frame structure with its tWo sides disposed to yieldingly engage the adjacent upright edges of the sashes.v

2. A'window structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the mullion post has a longitudinally extending recess in its outer side to receive the inner edge portions of the resilient mullion member.

3. A window structure as claimed in'claim 2 in which the longitudinal recess of the mullion post has lateral slots and the resilient mullion member has its inner edges extended laterally to looseiyinterlock with 'the slots.

4. A window structure as claimed'in claim 2 in which the mullion post is fitted with'adjustable screw means for varying the maximum lateral spread of the two sides of the resilient mullion member.

5. A window structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the mullion post is formed of two parts of the same cross The window is sectional shape rigidly secured together to provide the recessed construction of the post.

6. A casement window frame comprising wood sill,

head, jamb and mullion parts, of which the mullioncomprises a rigid post structure, and means for joining the bottom and top ends of the mullion post to the sill and head, respectively, comprising mating spline slots formed in the sill, post and head parts, plywood splines fitted in each pair of mating slots and screws inserted through the sill and head parts, respectively, into the splines of the respective joints to expand laterally portions of the splines embedded'in the sill and head slots.

7. A window frame as claimed in claim 6 in which the topside 'of the sill and the bottom side'of the head are longitudinally mortised and the-bottom and top ends of themullion are shaped to fit the mortises of the sill and head, respectively.

8. A'casement Window structure comprising a wood frame having sill, jamb and head structures of which the outer edge'of the stool in position to support an inner sash; a wood outer sash hinged to the frame to open outwardeand operating meahs'for the outer sash removably'; mounted-in theispaee'flof'the sill'structur'e between the main sill part and the secondar'y stool.

posed somewhat lower than the upper surface of the stool. 10. A casement window structure as claimed in claim 8 in which the secondary stool of the sill structure has,

its upper" surface inclined downward toward its outer edge. 7

11. A casement window structure as claimed in claim 8 inwhich the main sill member has its upper surface formed with'a continuous longitudinal rabbet to locate other frame and attachment parts.

12. Amulli'on' structure for casement windows comprising a wood post-and 'aresilient mullion and'weather seal member formed of a strip of sheet material folded longitudinally to approximately 1/' cross section, the said resilient member being loosely secured to and projecting from the outer side of the wood post with its fold edge and divergent sides exposed.

13. A mullion structure as claimed in claim 12 in which the wood 'post has a longitudinallyextending recess in its outer side to receive the two inner edge portions of the resilient mullion member.

14. A mullion structure as claimed in claim 13 in which the longitudinal recess of the mullion post has lateral slots and the resilient mullion member has its inner edges extended laterally to loosely interlock with the slots.

l5. A'mullion structure as claimed in claim 13 in which the mullion post is fitted with adjustablescrew means for varying-the'maximum lateral spread of the two sides of the resilient mullionmemb'er.

16. A mullion structure as claimed in claim 13 in which the mullion post has its outer side formed with a longitudinally extending recess having" lateral slots, the

post being formed of two parts of the same cross sectional shape rigidly secured together to'provide the recessed construction of the post andthe resilient mullion member has its inner edges extended laterallyto loosely interlock with the slots of the post.

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